Firemen alarmed about Cigarettes

Fire department warns smokers of dangers Smoking safety is on the mind of Battalion Chief Lee Reed of the Searcy Fire Department, especially since he's seen two deaths in Searcy during his 29-year career that were related to smoking. “Of the 10 or 12 fatalities we've had in Searcy during my time, two of those were smoking-related,” Reed said. Reed says his warnings are not an anti-smoking campaign. “We're not trying to dictate whether people smoke or don't smoke,” Reed said. “Our emphasis is on fire safety, and we have identified this is a problem. There are fire deaths that are preventable that are caused by smoking materials, such as Cigarettes, cigars, pipes and matches, that are improperly discarded or not properly out when they are.” Across the nation, about 1,000 people are killed in smoking-related fires each year, Reed said, and the “kicker” is that the victims are not all smokers. “One of four people that are killed in those are not the smokers themselves,” Reed said, “34 percent are children and 25 percent are neighbors or friends.” Smoking safety is crucial, Reed said. “If people do choose to smoke, we encourage them to go outside when they smoke and to have a means to properly dispose of their smoking materials in approved containers,” Reed said. “Put the smoking materials in something air tight, put it in sand or douse it in water.” Ash trays must have a stable base, Reed cautioned. The catch phrase the U.S. Fire Administration is using is, “Put it out all the way every time.” Reed said that if anyone empties an ashtray into a trash can and something is not out all the way, it could smolder later. And of course there's the quintessential smoking advice: Don't smoke in bed. “Furniture and bedding is where most of the fires caused by smoking materials is found,” Reed said. “Never smoke when you're drowsy due to alcohol or medication.” Reed said smokers should pay attention to their surroundings and remember smoking and certain other things don't mix. “Never smoke in a house where home oxygen is in use,” Reed said. “You'd be surprised how many people do.” Other fire safety precautions that should be taken for any situation include installing smoke detectors and having a home fire safety plan. “Have fire extinguishers handy, so if you do have a smoldering fire, you can approach it in the beginning stages,” Reed said.